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The most famous prisoners in Alcatraz history

Alcatraz is home to a Civil War military garrison, seabird colonies, and the West Coast's oldest working lighthouse. But if its walls could talk, they'd give a whole lot away about some of America's most dangerous criminals. Here's a quick overview!

Al Capone

Perhaps the most famous gangster of all time, Capone eventually ended up in cell 181 where, by most accounts, he was unable to cope with prison life.

Robert Franklin Stroud

The "Birdman of Alcatraz" actually became a respected ornithologist at his previous prison, Leavenworth. Alcatraz wouldn't let him keep animals!

Mickey Cohen

Harvey Keitel won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Cohen in "Bugsy." It was a fitting tribute to a man who invented every Hollywood mobster cliché!

James "Whitey" Bulger

Before he was one of America's most feared crime bosses, the notoriously brutal Bulger spent three years in Alcatraz. The bogeyman of Boston is currently incarcerated in Florida.

Photo: Derek Key @Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin

In 1962, these three cracked an intricate plan thought to be the only successful Alcatraz escape attempt. What happened to them after that is anyone's guess!

Alcatraz: Our Tips

How to get there?

You can only reach Alcatraz by ferry, which sets off from Port 33 on the Embarcadero.

Best time of year to visit?

Alcatraz gets quite foggy during the summer months, so you'll experience the best weather at the end of spring or beginning of fall. May and June are ideal for bird activity.

Best time of day to visit?

It only really matters if you want to spend the whole day there, in which case you'll obviously want to get there as early as possible! There are a limited amount of people allowed on the island, which keeps crowds from getting out of hand - so be prepared to wait.

Good to Know

When to visit

Ferry departures from 9AM daily.

What is the price?

Ticket prices vary, from $30 for adults.

Will I need a guide?

Experience Alcatraz as part of a hop-on hop-off tour of other San Francisco sights like the Golden Gate Bridge, and save money - there'll be a guide giving you all the information you need for every destination.

How to get there

As Alcatraz is an island, the only way of reaching it is by ferry. You can do this on the F line of the Muni (bus).

Additional tips

The island has some steep hills, so make sure to wear good walking shoes.

Bring a jacket or sweater - it can get chilly near the coast!

What People Are Saying About Alcatraz

Chris was so thorough and insightful. Knows every detail abt San Fran.

Chris was a great tour guide. Started on time and got a full 3 hrs. This was my first time on a Segway and in San Francisco, was a great teacher and tour guide. Learned how to ride quickly and have a really detailed and interesting tour. We saw the hot spots. I would have liked to have seen Lombard street.

Fantastic Trip, well worth a day of anyone's time.

Sunset bike tour was fantastic, trip to Alcatraz just topped it all.

Sunset bike tour was excellent, very well organised and conducted by well informed friendly guide. Took in all of the Bay sights from Fishermans Wharf to across the Golden Gate Bridge.
Alcatraz was just amazing a wonderful step back in time to how the island was ran, firstly as a military prison and then as a state prison. Excellent trip which you could conduct at your own pace along with the cell block audio tour which was very informative.
The views from the island of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge were truly memorable.
All round a fantastic, value for money excursion.